Our Monday meeting kicked off a minute or two early, as President Bruce Shepard had quite a few things to get through on the agenda and we needed a bit of a head start. To begin the meeting Bruce showed a video encouraging members to sign up for 2024 District Conference in Drumheller in May. The "early bird" rate will apply until the end of February. See the link below for signup information.
President Bruce then advised the members that the Board had met last week and were recommending two expenditures for approval by the club. This meeting was an opportunity to introduce these as "Notices of Motion".
First, that the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat support the Global Grant project described to us on February 19th by Gerry Darichuk, to purchase equipment for a rehabilitation veterans recovery hospital in the Ukraine. The cost to our club of this support will be a donation of $2,000 US, which with matching District and RI funds will be a total support of $11,000 to the project.
Second, that the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat submit a District Grant application before the deadline, to support renovations and equipment for the historic Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat. The cost to our club of this grant will be $2,500 CDN, which will provide a total grant of $10,000 to the Monarch theatre.
Both these motions were moved and seconded, but as they are financial in nature, require 14 days notice before they can be voted on. So those interested in these projects will be able to vote for them at the March 11th meeting of the club.
After that financial business was concluded, the Director of Club Service, Dave Stalwick took the podium and provided a summary of the work that has gone on within the Board and the Club Service committee to review the venue that we hold meetings in, and to explore three alternative locations over the next few months.
Dave spoke about the need to rationalize the cost of the room, independent of the cost of the meal, and to secure a meal quality that is encouraging for members and guests. We definitely have some advantages at the Medicine Hat Lodge, but what was once free is no longer free, and what was a more than acceptable meal has become much less so. Dave spoke about having a positive experience, and something to be proud of for guests.
Dave explained that the current room cost is $250.00/meeting, which is one of the reasons that we are meeting less in person. That cost truly restricts the money left for meals. He indicated that several of the venues will will try have their own unique issues, but after the process of visiting all the locations, we will meet back at the MH Lodge in late May and bring the matter before the club.
The three venues will be visit are
March 4th and March 18th - The Medicine Hat Legion
April 8th and April 15th - The Backroom at Ralphs Steakhouse
May 6th and May 13th - The Courtyard Room at the MH College
Much more to come on this issue and please try to attend at least one meeting in each location, so you can be informed about the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
Rotary Club "What-z New":
A few more meeting helpers are required to run cameras and sound during our hybrid meetings. Anyone wishing to help should contact Mike Christie 403 878 3311.
Rotary Club Committee Membership Update:
Please continue to assist your 'team captains' and please also work in other areas of club activity, as you are able
NEW DEVELOPMENT! Please have a look on ClubRunner in the Committee section. You should find your name on one of the committee member lists, as per your choice(s). If not, please contact President Bruce
Rotary Club Information:
Housekeeping:
If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone, text or email the President and it will be included in the next Newsletter.
Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.
Rotary District 5360 and Rotary International News
RI CONVENTION 2025 IN CALGARY
The RI Convention was last held in Calgary in 1996. It’s going to be back in Calgary again in 2025.
DG Kurt Kowalchuk (email dated June 19) is calling for committee members, in particular but not exclusively, for the Sponsorship & Revenue committee, and the House of Friendship committee
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Host Organizing Committee secretary, Luanne Whitmarsh (l.whitmarsh@shaw.ca)
DG Kurt writes that this convention is going to be done in a way that will be transformational for Rotary in our District
PDG Sandy McKay and AG Dan Kammerer have volunteered to be the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat's representatives on the RI Host Committee. Thank you to both!
Other District news
The annual District 5360 AGM will be held on May 13th at 7:00 pm. Our club is normally officially represented by the President-elect and another member of the executive, but any Rotarian may attend. It is a ZOOM meeting, so no travel required. Watch the WN for a link to sign up.
The 2024 District Conference website has now gone live for registration, early bird discounts apply until February 29, 2024. Register online at https://www.discon5360.ca . The 2024 District Conference will be in Drumheller on May 4 and 5. Because of the 2025 RI Convention in Calgary, there will be no local conference in 2025 and the next District Conference will be May 2026 in Red Deer.
Ideas for Future Programs
The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Dave Panabaker (d.panabaker@hotmail.com) and Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com).
If you have ideas for future programs, please contact them.
The Rotary Club was pleased to welcome the Executive Director of the Music Festival, Delynne Lorentzen to our meeting today. Delynne has served as our ED for over 5 years now, and is encouraged by the renewed interest in participation.
Delynee provided a brief update on attendance at the upcoming (March 4 - 17) Rotary Music Festival. She indicated that our participation is recovering after the shock of the COVID pandemic, and she is hoping for around 600 individual performances during the 2 weeks of Festival. She was also very happy to provide the news that we are expecting 11 school bands to perform, 7 choirs, and 7 musical theatre groups.
She has a great group of adjudicators lined up and is looking forward to a very successful festival. She is particularly encouraged by the number of junior level performers who are entered. That bodes very well for the future.
Delynne provided some great slides of past participants and told some great stories about their work and their success. Several members of the club also stood up and spoke about how the Festival had impacted their families. She also advised the club of a number of last minute, volunteer opportunities that have arisen as the Festival gets near, and she was able to sign up most of the duties. Thanks to everyone who will help out!
Delynne was thanked by President Bruce Shepard on behalf of the whole club, for her exemplary work on this showpiece of our Community Service.
GUESTS: The only guest today was our speaker, Delynne Lorentzen, Executive Director of the Rotary Music Festival.
We had a large group on ZOOM today, at one time the count was 7 Rotarians.
As well, the room was pretty full with in-person attendee's as well. Nice to see a good crowd, especially on a very cold, winter day.
CLUB DRAW: Doug Fleming was the lucky winner of a box of chocolates.
Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. The stock cupboard is looking a tad bare!
Makeups: None mentioned .
Birthdays:
Dan Kammerer March 4
Dave Panabaker March 7
Terry Cooper March 25
Rotary Anniversaries:
Stan Sakamoto 40 years March 1, 1984
Jack Snedden 35 years March 1, 1989
Dave Stalwick 22 years March 4, 2002
Mike Christie 22 years March 4, 2002
John John 21 years March 10, 2003
Bruce Shepard 10 years March 10, 2014.
Alain Guerard 1 year March 13, 2023.
Dawn Barr 20 years March 29, 2004.
Wedding Anniversary Rose Runner for March 2024:
Gail Halderman
Minutes:
BINGO
Dave Panabaker advised that our recent bingo on Sunday February 18th was a lot of fun, but didn't contribute to the profit pool in a positive way. He did indicate that recent checks for both bingo and pull ticket profits have been up over our budgeted amount, which is encouraging. Also encouraging were the number of young players in the hall, new players and couples who seem to be taking bingo in. Alain Guerard won the guess pot, and the team looked after 74 players. Dave Stalwick secured a full squad for the next bingo, which is Thursday evening, March 7th.
SECRET 3K WALK
Members are reminded that the "Secret 3K Walk for Women and Children" will be held on the Sunrise Rotary Trail on International Women's Day, Friday March 8 at 5pm. This is the third annual walk in support of the District initiative. Last year 15 of us did the walk on a freezing cold day but we are hoping for a much nicer day this year and thus more people. Drinks and treats will be provided at the finish. It shouldn't take more than 30-35 minutes to do the walk and people can decide to just do part of the route.
It is a fundraiser for the cause but Sunrise members are really looking at it as a way for the clubs to come together.
Meet in the Cultural Centre parking lot to begin the walk at 5pm.Please plan to join in.
Members are asked to step up as volunteers for the information desk and for door monitoring.
CLUB 1000 RAFFLE TICKETS
We have reached the 45% of sold tickets for our raffle, so prizes and costs are covered. The money is now all going to the Music Festival.
Tickets may be purchased by credit card at our ZEFFY site, https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/d29ee168-eca9-4a04-ab5a-ba65a6754aab . If you have some tickets sold, and perhaps some checks that you would like cashed, feel free to put those together and bring those to Dave, Glen or Doug. We are happy to do those deposits, so purchasers checks are not sitting around too long.
Club members are reminded that our Club 1000 raffle is the principal activity to raise funds for the Rotary Music Festival, and our goal is to raise $36,000 for the 2024 Festival.
Donations for the Ukraine
Alain Guerard advised that he has met with Gerry in Airdrie, and they have enough material to move one container of medical supplies to the Ukraine. He will be working on warehousing space and transportation logistics over the next few weeks.
Family of Rotary
No mention of anyone today.
Please keep a Board Member informed about members health changes, so that information can be provided to the club through the Weekly News.
The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has returned to meeting in person. Our first meeting of every month is a ZOOM business meeting. Check the club calendar, which is usually up to date for our meeting locations and program.
